I read with interest the contribution by Mr Leo Brincat, A dual challenge: for Gonzi and Labour (TMID March 18) and it is in response to this that I wish to comment.

Mr Brincat made a list of complaints – anywhere from “the tribalism that prevailed in the past four years... squandering of government funds on propaganda...abuses in the running of state-owned media,” etc.

Dr Brincat has every right to express his opinions but taken in context of his party’s history of not that many years ago, his complaints pale in contrast to our experiences of the Malta Labour Party’s past.

Even recently, during the election campaign, statements made at an MLP general meeting still ring in my ear such as, “We will be a government for the Laburisti – We are ready – we have our people lined up to go here there and everywhere – there will be no confusion we know who to place in different departments,” etc., etc.

And now Mr Brincat seems to challenge the Nationalist government to treat the Labourites as equal citizens. As if the Nationalists were proclaiming themselves as the government for Nationalists. I was bored hearing Dr Gonzi repeat the words that he intended to govern for all people adding that “Together everything is possible”. What else does Mr Brincat and the MLP expect?

Maybe, Dr Gonzi will extend special treatment to Labourites and treat Nationalists as second class citizens.

By the same token it is expected that those working in government departments work faithfully within the government’s policy framework and to make sure, taking a hint from the Labour Party’s own exhortations, that meritocracy should be the policy by which government employees are retained or promoted be they red or blue or green – a practice not even loosely adhered to by past Labour administrations.

Mr Brincat wrote about the growing number of floating voters; the disillusioned Nationalist voters who stopped short of voting Labour; those who did not collect their vote rather than vote MLP and the first time voters whom the MLP failed to reach out for effectively.

The floating voters cannot be controlled or influenced by any of the two parties, otherwise they will not remain “floaters”.

They cannot accurately be counted because who was a floater in this election may not float in the next one. In other words the floaters are not the same ones election after election. Secondly, no matter who is in government, there will always be disillusioned voters probably because they either asked for an impossible favour or they were not accorded special favours by the government.

That being the case, Mr Brincat can rest assured that a Nationalist government is not in the habit of handing out candy to Nationalists. Then we come to the ones who preferred not to vote rather than vote MLP. I wonder why. Lastly there were the first time voters who the MLP fear that they did not reach out to. Here again, a rerun of MLP mass meetings, press conferences when no straightforward answers were available from the very top official may give Mr Brincat a hint or two.

Contrary to what Mr Brincat states, that there was a demonisation campaign against Dr Sant, it is more than my impression that the demonisation was in effect, not against Dr Sant but rather against his flawed policies. Stressing that there was any demonising of Dr Sant is another way of saying that Mr Brincat and others found the MLP’s policies acceptable. Were they so, they would be governing now.

Touching the sensitive area of the media owned by both political parties, Mr Brincat amazes me. He correctly states that the “credibility factor” should kick in. I agree but then Mr Brincat seems not to listen to One Radio and One TV very often, otherwise he should have given his advice to them much sooner.

Tony Blair’s comment to Mr Brincat is only partially true depending of course how one interprets “Opposition”.

If an Opposition is there to be a watchdog, to ensure responsible government spending, that new laws make sense and are good for the country, then it is a good opposition and as such it deserves a good leader and so does the country. On the other hand if the Opposition is there just to be a nuisance and simply oppose everything the government proposes, then it is a disruptive, if not destructive, Opposition.

Now is post mortem time and already many on the Labour side are pointing out the shortcomings, the outdated policies, the bluff that the party was ready anytime the election is called but failed to present a proof read, edited and correct copy of the manifesto rather than end up with a patchwork of deletes, insertions, omissions and then blame the computer for misprints! Couldn’t fool a five year old let alone the voter at large.

Yes, the country needs a good Opposition party and the Labour Party has a chance to clean up, reform and present itself as a true alternative one can feel comfortable with.

It is an arduous job but with determination they can do it and then and only then will their supporters not feel that they are children of a lesser god.

Joe Martinelli

London, Ontario